The Guardians are transferring right-hander Slade Cecconi to the bullpen, supervisor Stephen Vogt mentioned on Tuesday afternoon (hyperlink by way of Tim Stebbins of MLB.com). He cedes his rotation spot to deadline acquisition Foster Griffin. Cleveland’s new southpaw will make his workforce debut on Thursday reverse Nolan McLean of their finale with the Mets.
Cecconi is at the moment on the mound at Progressive Area for his first reduction look of the yr. He has began 21 video games and posted a 4.78 ERA by 107 1/3 innings. Cecconi has a modest 17.8% strikeout proportion towards a strong 7.4% stroll charge. He has allowed 1.34 house runs per 9 innings. It’s slight worse manufacturing than Cecconi’s first season in Cleveland, as he pitched to a 4.30 ERA with a 20% strikeout charge over 23 begins final yr.
Acquired from the Diamondbacks within the 2024 Josh Naylor deal, Cecconi is a strike-throwing fifth/sixth starter. He has fringe stuff and doesn’t miss a ton of bats, however the largest problem is that he’s been too weak to the house run. Cecconi however managed a pleasant run between Might and June. He had an unsightly July, permitting 19 runs (15 earned) over 17 innings throughout 4 begins. He was unable to finish 5 innings in any of his final three begins.
It’s remarkably the primary change all yr to the Cleveland rotation. They’ve had zero beginning pitching accidents and had run a five-man group of Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo and Cecconi. Solely a doubleheader on July 18 — which led them to name up lefty Logan Allen for a day — had stored them from working the identical beginning 5 all yr.
Cecconi has proven sufficient to stay on the massive league roster, as Cleveland optioned righty reliever Franco Aleman to open the required spot on the pitching employees. They made a pair greater cuts on the place participant facet, optioning Kyle Manzardo and David Fry to Triple-A Columbus throughout yesterday’s off day. They gave option to lineup additions Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe.
Excluding damage rehabilitation assignments, it’s the primary time that Fry has been despatched down since his MLB debut in Might 2023. Manzardo had been on the massive league lively roster for the reason that begin of the ’25 season. Each gamers have had previous success hitting in the course of the lineup however have underperformed this yr.
Fry, an All-Star in 2024, has labored as a right-handed bench bat/third catcher this yr. He’s hitting .182/.304/.336 with six homers however a 30% strikeout charge throughout 168 plate appearances. Fry solely has 5 hits in 62 at-bats for the reason that starting of June. Adell ought to present fairly a bit extra punch towards left-handed pitching.
Manzardo has been Cleveland’s Opening Day designated hitter in every of the final two seasons. He hit 27 homers a season in the past however is right down to 13 longballs with a .215/.306/.378 slash line by 356 plate appearances this yr. Manzardo has fanned at a 32% clip and had slumped in July after seemingly discovering his stride within the prior two months.
Rhys Hoskins has had a equally underwhelming yr however would’ve wanted to be launched if the Guardians needed to drop him from the MLB roster. Manzardo has two choices remaining and might head again to Columbus with out sacrificing any depth. For granted-handed hitter, Hoskins additionally makes for a extra pure pairing with their new lefty-swinging first baseman Lowe.
